Ritchie County 2024 Primary Voter Guide

HARRISVILLE, W.Va. (WBOY) — Depending on their party affiliation, voters in Ritchie County will have several decisions to make in the 2024 Primary Election on Tuesday, May 14.

Democratic Ballot:

On the national ticket, President Joe Biden is running for the nomination against four largely-unknown candidates.

Three candidates are vying for the nomination to replace U.S. Senator Joe Manchin: Glenn Elliott of Wheeling, Don Blankenship from Mingo County and Zachary Shrewsbury of Princeton. Elliott is the current mayor of Wheeling and has been endorsed by Manchin . Shrewsbury is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a self-described “community and climate activist.” Blankenship, as many will remember, is the former CEO of Massey Energy who was convicted of conspiracy to violate federal mine safety laws surrounding the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion that killed 29 miners in 2010. In 2018, Blankenship ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, and in 2020, he ran for president as a third-party candidate.

On the state ticket, the only contested race is for attorney general, between Richie Robb , a lawyer and former South Charleston mayor, and Teresa Toriseva , who heads a law firm in Wheeling.

There are no contested races on the county level.

Republican Ballot:

Nationally, former President Donald Trump is up against four other candidates on the West Virginia ballot, with Nikki Haley being the only one known nationally, though she ended her campaign in March .

For U.S. Senate, Gov. Jim Justice is facing off against U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney (2nd District) and five other lesser-known opponents.

In the race for the nomination for Mooney’s current seat in Congress, State Treasurer Riley Moore is facing two other candidates from the Eastern Panhandle, Nate Cain and Chris “Mookie” Walker , along with Joe Earley , of Bridgeport, and Alex Gaaserud , from Parkersburg.

On the state ticket, the hotly-contested race for governor features Attorney General Patrick Morrisey , Secretary of State Mac Warner , former state delegate Moore Capito , Huntington businessman Chris Miller , Kevin Christian , an engineer from Calhoun County, and Mitch Roberts , an equipment rental store manager from Putnam County.

Secretary of state is a four-horse race among former state GOP chairman Kris Warner , Doug Skaff , who served in the state House of Delegates as a Democrat , longtime Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood and former Morgan County Commissioner Ken Reed .

In the auditor’s race, it’s House of Delegates member Eric Householder , Jefferson County Commissioner Tricia Jackson , former House of Delegates member Caleb Hanna and State Senator Mark Hunt .

Incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt is challenged by Joshua Higginbotham and Roy Ramey .

In the race for state Attorney General, current State Treasurer J.B. McCuskey and State Senator Mike Stuart are facing off.

There are no contested races on the county level.

Non-Partisan Ballot (all voters participate, and May results are final):

On the state ticket, voters will be deciding between two Charleston residents, Mychal Schulz and Ryan White , and Elgine McArdle , of Wheeling, for Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge.

Closer to home, the 3rd Judicial Circuit is adding a second seat to join incumbent Judge Timothy Sweeney. Running for the new seat are Elizabeth attorney Leslie Maze , Ritchie County Prosecuting Attorney Samuel Rogers and Harrisville lawyer Scott Wolfe . The circuit is shared by Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie and Wirt counties.

Voters will also be choosing a judge for the Fourth Family Court Circuit, which is shared by Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie and Roane counties. Ted Davitian, the current Wirt County Prosecuting Attorney, and Glenville attorney Betty Gregory are running for the spot.

On the county ticket, there are two levies to be decided, which would help fund the county library system and the board of education.

When it comes to municipal races, voters in Cairo will be choosing between Nikki Collins and Jimmy Nichols for Mayor and between Sarah Rose, Marilyn Pence, Desperado Hiley, Ray Simmons and Gabrielle Simmons for two seats on town council.

In Pennsboro, Pat Parker, Bud Sellers and Kenna Davis are running for two seats on city council.

Voter Resources:

You can find sample ballots on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website or by looking up your specific ballot with this tool .

You can find your polling place here .

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